Menopause-Related Health Outcomes in Women with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Receiving Long-Term Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) Suppression after Total Thyroidectomy
Authors' conclusion
Prolonged TSH suppression may adversely affect postmenopausal health, particularly in low-risk, disease-free women with DTC.
Study context
- Population
- Postmenopausal women; excluded cognitive impairment, history of osteoporosis or CVD
- Participants
- 107 / 80 / 97
- Exposure
- Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) on TSH suppression vs levothyroxine (LT4) replacement for primary hypothyroidism vs euthyroid controls
- DTCn = 107
- LT4 replacementn = 80
- Euthyroid controlsn = 97reference
- Outcome
- Cardiovascular health (CVH), quality of life (QoL), muscle mass and bone health
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Lower LE8 scores in DTC vs the other two groups
- p < 0.001
- Lower Utian QoL (UQoL) scores in DTC vs the other two groups
- p < 0.001
- Higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in DTC vs the other two groups
- p < 0.001
- Higher prevalence of osteoporosis in DTC vs the other two groups
- p = 0.003
- Reduced muscle mass in DTC vs the other two groups
- p = 0.017
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Multivariable regression: cumulative LT4 dose and serum TSH vs LE8 and UQoL scores
- Cumulative LT4 dose independently associated with lower LE8 score
- β = −0.354, p < 0.001
- Cumulative LT4 dose independently associated with lower UQoL score
- β = −0.396, p < 0.001
- Higher serum TSH positively associated with LE8 score
- β = 0.271, p = 0.002
- Higher serum TSH positively associated with UQoL score
- β = 0.487, p < 0.001
Original publication
Menopause-Related Health Outcomes in Women with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Receiving Long-Term TSH Suppression after Total Thyroidectomy. Thyroid. Published 13 April 2026. doi:10.
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